By Blessings Preston Memena

Mzuzu, April 26, Mana: Executive Director for Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), George Jobe has urged stakeholders to collaborate with the government in sensitization and awareness raising campaign on the dangers of the malaria.  

Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Thursday as Malawi joined the rest of the World in commemorating World Malaria Day, Jobe noted that malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the country, but it is most underrated by most Malawians. 

According to Jobe malaria drugs are mostly available in Malawi's public health facilities and the government has been distributing mosquito nets, which some people abuse by covering their vegetable gardens and for fishing.

“The malaria drugs are mostly available in Malawi's public health facilities, but most people report late for treatment when they or their children have malaria symptoms thereby resulting in a high mortality rate”, Jobe said. 

However, Jobe stressed the need for health partners to join hands with the government in sensitization and awareness-raising campaigns on the dangers of Malaria disease which is one of the killer diseases. 

“The increased awareness-raising will help appreciate that malaria is one of the big killers and that there is a need to get treatment early when one has a high fever,” he added. 

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Adrian Chikumbe could not respond when we called him to comment on the matter.

However, The Nation newspaper on Friday quoted Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda saying that in 2023, Malawi recorded 6.4 million malaria cases with a total of 1670 deaths an increase from 4.2 million in 2022.

She added that deaths decreased from 1 829 in 2022 to 1 670 in 2023 representing 25 percent of the county’s deaths.

Malawi’s National Malaria Strategic Plan 2023-2030 aims to eliminate malaria as a public health concern by the year 2030.

The world commemorates Malaria Day on 25 April every year, and this year the day was commemorated under the theme ‘Accelerate the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.’